Artist Statement
“Make art to make sense.”
I created that motto when I really started to figure out what my “Why” is – not only as an artist but as a human being. I make art to make sense of my world, my surroundings, and my thoughts. Art gives me a tangible outlet to process the intangible.
The unifying theme of my work is a focus on tedious, meditative processes to balance my energy. I have an abundance of nervous energy that builds, heavy and distracting, but in my art-making, that same energy stimulates patience, curiosity, and inspiration. My process often involves collecting and interacting with materials in a way that allows them to respond and grow as I work with them. When I displace my nervous energy into a piece, I walk away restored and the cycle begins again.
I am also interested in the connection sparked through the individual interpretation of abstract art. I didn’t understand abstract art when I was younger but now it feels so freeing to make things that aren’t representative of anything. I know what the pieces were inspired by and what I take from them in the end. Often unprompted, people open up about what a piece looks like to them. They tell me what it reminds them of. They share their stories and experiences. The fact that a piece of artwork can encourage someone to share a part of their life is very exciting. Art is an excellent way to facilitate connection, a cornerstone of human existence.
Biography
Austyn is an artist and photographer currently residing in Utah. She was born in Washington and attended Kindergarten through College in Florida. Shortly after graduating from the University of Central Florida with a BFA in Sculpture she traveled competing in a sport called flowboarding to 13 countries over the course of 3 years. Traveling influenced her to expand to whatever art mediums were available and solidified her understanding of a personal connection between art making and mental health.
